Environment and sustainability – April 2020

News from the Netherlands
The government (in Dutch) has announced that a DRS for small plastic bottles will be introduced on 1 July 2021. On 10 April, the State Secretary sent a letter (in Dutch) to the government on various topics for the circular economy debate (in Dutch) of 16 April. She also sent a study (in Dutch, 2.94 MB) by DRIFT on the current incentives for landfill, incineration and recovery of waste. The debate took place in writing and the questions and comments (in Dutch) were submitted to the State Secretary. On the same day a digital webinar (in Dutch) about the Plastic Pact took place. The City of Amsterdam wants to stop separate collection of plastic from 2021 onwards. This is one of the plans set out in the Waste and Raw Materials Implementation Programme 2020-2025 that can be commented on (in Dutch) until 24 May 2020. COELO's (in Dutch, 731 kB) Atlas of Local Charges shows that the municipal waste levy has increased by 7.8% in 2020. The Packaging Waste Fund (in Dutch) reports the formation of the 'PMD, glass and paper crisis team' to tackle bottlenecks in the chain caused by COVID-19. RVO (in Dutch) has announced a new SME grant scheme (in Dutch) for circular projects.

News from outside the Netherlands
EU: The European Committee of the Regions has opened a consultation on the new Circular Economy Action Plan (2.12 MB). EEA published a report (8.45 MB) investigating country policies in the shift towards a circular economy. Rubbermaid published a report on the state of commercial recycling that you can download after filling in your details. Australia: APCO has launched a new strategic framework (4.22 MB) on how to reach the 2025 packaging targets. Denmark: A resolution (in Danish) has been introduced in Parliament to also use the waste bin recycling pictograms (in Danish) on packaging. Slovakia: The Institute for Environmental Policy has published a report (1.46 MB) on separate waste collection and EPR. UK: Defra has announced that due to COVID-19, the ban on plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds is being delayed until October 2020. The Scottish government has also delayed the charge for plastic bags for grocery deliveries until October and the DRS until July 2022. US: How2Recycle has published the Guide for Recyclability and the Guide to Future Recyclability. PSI has published a report (2.22 MB) on EPR. ACC has published Mass Balance Certification Principles (545 kB) to support plastic recycling. FRONTLINE has released the film Plastic Wars. An interesting watch!

Plastics
In a new report (1.42 MB), the European Academies of Science (EASAC) warn that current efforts to resolve the plastics problem are ineffective and misleading. The Plastic Leak Project, led by Quantis and EA, has released a methodology to conduct plastic leakage assessments that you can download after filling in your details.

Microplastics
Utrecht University researchers have detected 26 types of rubbers and microplastics in Dutch rivers. The study (4.64 MB) is published in Water Research. According to a Washington State University study, also published in Water Research (abstract), we may be drinking a few grams of plastics every month. University of Newcastle research has revealed that opening plastic packaging is creating microplastics we might consume. An article (1.55 MB) about the research is published in Nature Scientific Reports. A University of Florida study shows that sea turtles may mistake plastic for food not only by the way it looks but also by the way it smells. Duke University research, published (4.37 MB) in PLOS ONE, found that exposure to microplastics causes cellular changes in fish and may disrupt endocrine systems. A project, led by Queen Mary University of London, has been launched in a bid to prevent plastic hotspots in the Channel. JRC has launched a study to harmonise methods to measure microplastics in water.

NVC members receive this information with all the relevant links in the monthly NVC Members-only Update. If you have any questions, please contact us: info@nvc.nl, +31-(0)182-512411.